Queechy Alliance Middle Years Literacy Project

Queechy Alliance Middle Years Literacy Project 2018-2020

Reading: Anne Bayetto

Anne Bayetto, Researcher & Lecturer in Inclusive & Specialised Education from Flinders University in Adelaide, worked with our QA staff in the final week of Term 3.

Her topics included:

• Intervention
• Teaching Reading in Grades 5-8 (2 day workshop) – non-fiction and fiction, dialogic reading and planning
• Overview of the The Big 6 (Oral Language, Vocabulary, Phonological awareness, Letter-sound knowledge, Comprehension and Fluency)

Feedback from staff about the content and process was extremely positive.

A special thanks to Dianne Freeman (Principal) and Chris Cabalzar (Literacy Coach/Teacher) from Newstead College for supporting the logistics for such a huge event. It was also great that staff from Newstead could attend Anne’s session/s.

Instructional Model 2020

The Intructional Model (IM) is integral in ensuring we have consistency of teaching and learning across all seven school within the Queechy Alliance. We have unpacked each phase over the course of this year and will continue to practice using the IM until it is embedded in our culture

On Monday the 18^th November, Principals and In-School Leaders (ISLs) met at Newstead College for a full day to reflect on the progress of the project to date which included the implementation of the Instructional Model. We also developed some draft plans for 2020 and beyond.

Following a process led by Pamela Macklin, our School Improvement Consultant, it was agreed that we would focus on Quality Questioning to begin the school year. The skills we want our staff to develop include:

• Asking students questions that support/challenge/extend their thinking
• Aligning questions to the Learning Intention through purposeful planning

Professional Learning is currently being developed by the ISL team and it will be delivered in the beginning weeks of Term 1, 2020.

We wish all our families and community a safe and restful holiday season.

Belinda Simpson

QA MYLP Coordinator